Gustav, 7th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

Gustav, 7th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg[1] (Gustav Frederik Philip Richard; born 12 January 1969), is the eldest child and only son of Princess Benedikte of Denmark and Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.[2]

Gustav
Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
PredecessorPrince Richard
Heir apparentPrince Gustav Albrecht
Born (1969-01-12) 12 January 1969
Frankfurt am Main, West Germany
Spouse
​
(m. 2022)​
IssuePrince Gustav Albrecht
Names
Gustav Frederik Philip Richard
HouseSayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
FatherRichard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
MotherPrincess Benedikte of Denmark

Biography

Prince Gustav is the head of the House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, the senior branch of the formerly princely house of Sayn.[3] He resides at Schloss Berleburg-Wittgenstein in the town of Bad Berleburg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He is the son of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Benedikte of Denmark and has two sisters, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.

The principality and princely title of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg descended, historically, according to semi-Salic primogeniture.[3] If Gustav were to die without legitimate issue, the family heritage would devolve upon his father's younger brother, Prince Robin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.[1]

Gustav was formerly engaged to be married to Elvire Pasté de Rochefort (granddaughter of French Ambassador André Rodocanachi and wife Nada Diplarakou, herself sister of Aliki Diplarakou and grand-aunt of Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg); the engagement was announced on 16 August 2000 and the wedding planned for 12 May 2001 in Paris. However the wedding did not take place, reportedly due to financial issues with the bride's family, and it was announced on 16 July 2001 that they had separated. For many years, he resided with his partner, Carina Axelsson, although they were unable to marry due to a clause in Gustav's grandfather's will preventing him from inheriting family property if he marries someone not of Protestant, noble and Aryan descent. However, on 27 April 2022, the Danish court confirmed that Gustav would marry Axelsson on 3 June 2022, civilly and on 4 June 2022, religiously in Bad Berleburg.[4]

On 18 April 2023, the couple announced they were expecting their first child, due in the summer, via surrogate. Their son, Prince Gustav Albrecht, was born on 26 May 2023 in the United States via surrogacy.[5]

He is the godfather of Count Richard von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth, son of his sister Alexandra; Konstantin Johannsmann, son of his second sister Nathalie; and Prince Vincent of Denmark, son of his first cousin, the Crown Prince of Denmark.

Ancestry

References
  1. In 1919 royalty and nobility were mandated to lose their privileges in Germany, hereditary titles were to be legally borne thereafter only as part of the surname, according to Article 109 of the Weimar Constitution.
  2. "HRH Princess Benedikte". The Danish Monarchy (Official Site). Archived from the original on 1 April 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  3. Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XIX. "Sayn-Wittgenstein". C.A. Starke Verlag, 2011, pp.314–338. ISBN 978-3-7980-0849-6.
  4. "Kæmpe nyhed fra kongehuset: Nu kan prins Gustav endelig gifte sig med sin Carina". Billed Bladet. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  5. JR [@Jakreg76] (May 31, 2023). "A son was born to The Prince and Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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